MILK BAR PROSECUTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23269, 11 February 1939, Page 19

MILK BAR PROSECUTION

HEALTH INSPECTOR'S TESTS PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC "The public has to be protected against milk bars selling milk below standard," said Mr. C. R. Orr "Walker, S.M.. in the Police Court yesterday, when he fined a milk bar proprietress, Gertrude King, on two charges of selling milk adulterated with water. Defendant denied the charges.

An inspector of the Health Department said he obtained two samples of milk from defendant's premises on October 20 last. Defendant's daughter served him, taking one sample from a full can, and -another, at witness' request, from an almost empty container in the refrigerator. The first sample gave an excellent test, but the other showed that the milk was stale and adulterated with 19 per cent of added water. • Defendant said her daughter had been in solo charge of the shop for about three years. She added that the only explanation she could give for the presence of water in the milk was that it had formed in refrigeration process and later melted. In reply to the magistrate, a senior officer of the department said that the amount of water that would accumulate in refrigeration would be insufficient to affect milk. • "If I thought water had been deliberately added I would impose a substantial penalty," said the magistrate. "Defendant's explanation still loaves a grave suspicion, and the Sale of Food and Drugs Act makes her, as proprietor, responsible for tho offence. A fine of £4 and costs, £2 4s, was imposed.